A nice quiet week

After those 2 weeks+ of drinking every night, this last week was a refreshing change. Probably never thought you'd hear me say that, eh?

One night we went out for half-price sushi at Tea Tree at Levis Commons and Friday night there was some wine drinking but otherwise, incredibly moderate. In bed reading by 10 almost every night.

I went to see the Toledo Rep's production of Leading Ladies today and it was hilarious. Then we ate at Abuelo's and I am stuffed although I only had two enchiladas and some beans and taters.

I loaded a bunch of stuff on my iPod but alas when I plugged it in the car, it said no data. I know there's something in the manual about this message but I don't know what.

After yesterday's total sluggishness of breakfast, laying about all afternoon and then going to the Bass Pro and out to dinner in Toledo and to a bar on Dorr St. to see a band, I got some marginal house cleaning done today and some economy stimulus, i.e., clearance Christmas cards, incense, coffee and a latte, and the trip to Kroger where I always get the same stuff: eggs, bread, kitty din.

This week there's the heinous radio meeting Monday night and GNO Weds. which is apparently at 149 North and then a nothing weekend where I could supposedly go get that damn washer in Delaware as my sister now supposedly has the key to the storage unit although I am loathe to ask anybody to help me with this. My mom says my sister is depressed because where she lives now, there's no cable and although my sister had signed a year contract with the dish people (THERE'S some prudent use of money), she can't put her dish up there and it deprives her of her usual 20 hours a day of TV. I know I'm relentlessly snarky about this but if I had the whole story, like are there meds she could take that would help her but she can't afford them? or is she really the absolute worst sufferer of fibromyalgia on the planet? or where does her money go? or what's the deal with these former trailer park neighbors of her and why are they so angry? then maybe I would be more solicitous. But all I see is her draining my mom of cash and, possibly worse, worrying her interminably.

__________________________

Whirlwind

Since I've been back from Mexico, I've not spent one night home alone. It's just party, dine, party. Way to make January go by fast.

I leased a 2010 Honda Insight Wednesday. My lease on the Accord wasn't over until May and I was already a couple thousand miles over. So who knows if I got a good deal or not. It's fun to drive and so "green" and cute.



Tuesday I had to catch up with my cat sitter and the next night we went to Sherry's because her sister was in town and they made these great cheese prosciutto pizzas. I took dates stuffed with gorgonzola and bacon but alas only Connie would try them. And Hope who came later.

Friday was the Joe Baker Band at Howard's on the early bird schedule and then some euchre playing and last night we played poker. Where it seems like everyone won but that's not possible, now, is it?

Today I am making an apple galette and a wilted spinach salad to go with the short ribs that should be here in about an hour.

I got that bottle of 2008 Milton Park Shiraz which I will taste test tonight and then probably go buy the rest of the case from Joseph Beverage.

Bought a bottle of Singleton scotch too which I hardly ever have liquor in the house so let's see if I can be a good girl about it.

Also today since it was so warm (48) I cleaned out the garage so I can get the new auto in there. Much rearranging and hauling some stuff to the basement.

Did you know the yard waste is now closed and we have pay to take brush to the landfill? Apparently this is because we didn't pass the income tax levy in the fall. Somebody shoulda done a better job of pointing out the consequences of this. I don't recall getting any mailings or anything about it. Although maybe it was in the Sentinel.

This week looks to be relatively calm but there are many upcoming shows (see link at right) including Phat Noiz at the Clazel in March.

And I'm not out of money which is amazing as again this month, I have given my mom $200 to help Karen move and now there is some folderol about exactly where my washer is, apparently in some storage unit for which Karen doesn't have the key although she says she'll break that lock off if she has to. You can see why I am reluctant to set up someone to help me go get it when the getting it seems to be in doubt.

Cole Christensen has moved his radio show on 88.1 to Sunday afternoons noon to 2 which I am delighted about since I never got to hear it on Thursdays 4-6, which I called and told him. He's promoting the Chatham County Line show at GFT this Friday.

I've listened to WBGU since 10 am today: Latino, Cole's bluegrass, the India show, and now I Enjoy Being a Girl.

I bought a used DVD player from some guy at work but haven't got that hooked up. Also have not put anything on my iPod yet. What a techno loser I am.

____________________________________

Last full day

This morning the sand moving equipment arrived in front of our hotel. apparently they´re pumping sand up from the ocean and then spreading the current beach over it to make the beach extend further into the waves. We´ll see how Mother Nature goes for this.

Last night we had a REAL ribeye that we split and a big green salad and some bread with herb butter and then drank more wine after we had sat at La Ranita most of the afternoon drinking wine while it rained.

Eating, drinking, the usual wandering around aimlessly. I´ll have more details and some photos to post when I get back.

At least it´s hot today although still very windy. Hope my kitties are doing OK.

Continued variable

Yesterday we were able to sun from about 11 to 3 and then the clouds set back in. But in the meantime it was beautiful.

Had a ribeye at El Bistro at Lo Tortuga which was pretty good except (1) it wasn´t a ribeye and (2) they apparently have no concept of medium rare. More drinking of whiskey ensued at Fusion 2 spots south of us. In the night I could faintly hear the thumpy music at the Blue Parrot but it was more like a heartbeat in the background.

I see Haiti has been whacked by an earthquake. Hmmm, hope the rest of the world is still out there. Have not shopped for much except a little bride and groom doll. Haven´t been up to the Mega for supplies or nuthin. Yesterday the brain vagueness of total vacation set in.

Had breakfast at La Cueva del Chango this morning where I had some chicken crepes with poblano sauce that were sinfully rich. Just the way I like em.
=========

Slightly warmer

But right now it´s 66 and breezy. But still the sun is out and we´ve been at the beach bar since it clouded up around 1 prior to which we were in the beach chairs. Where yesterday I apparently forgot to sunscreen my thighs and tummy which are lobster red today. Muy doloroso.

Yesterday, after the afternoon drinking, we carried on to the evening drinking which included wine with the afternoon snack and then a siesta and then wine with dinner and then 4 Jack Daniel´s each at Fusion, where there was a jazz band playing despite the chilly wind. We both had on fleeces in this bar that is only partially enclosed, like everything down here. There were newspaper reports of children not going to school because it was so cold. So cold. Hmmm.

But the weather is on the improvement plan, with 72, 76, 80, 79 for our last 4 full days here. I know you were concerned.

Mas manana. Besos.
=============================

So far

Well, it was the plane trip from hell. AFter telling Annie my plane is on time, we get bumped to a 40 minute delay that after we were on the tarmac, there was a 40 minute delay for some mechanical problem and then when we get to Cancun, there are planes stacked up like crazy because the weather is so bad (for Cancun) so instead of landing at 220 like i was supposed to, I get there about 440 and by the time I determine her plane was also late and she must have gone on, thinking I must have gone on, I take the bus to Playa and get there about 8, at which time she was apoplectic, thinking I had been murdered or on a downed plane. She had taken a taxi from the airport for $30 but my bus was only $9 US so as it turns out we are reunited and go to Ula Gula for dinner and 3 rapid glasses of wine and buy a bottle of wine at a super mini which we can only drink one glass of and then we crash as it has been a very disorienting day.

Yesterday we wake to cloudiness but way warmer temps so we get some coffee and breakfast and hit the beach around 10 where it turns out to be pretty sunny but about 2 it clouds up like crazy and is windy and chilly (like maybe 60) so we go up to town for a little something to eat at Las Brisas (arrachera fajitas) and then retire to our room as it is now very windy and very chilly and we read until 8 when we go to Yaxche where there are no inside tables available so we eat at Media Luna which is at least upstairs and out of the wind and have tomato soup with a giant pile of guacamole in it and split a Caesar salad and their excellent bread and no bevs and go back to the room and read until we go to sleep. But we see on the way home the stars are out.

Today the sky is sparkling blue, no clouds at 730 am so we get coffee and have breakfast at Tropical and hit the beach but alas now at 3 pm it has become so windy and chilly we can´t even hang at the bar on the beach so have come to internet. Although we have already had 4 drinks and so I wasn´t sure I could type. So far so good.

Tomorrow we are expecting it to be spectacular.

Still, it looks like this. So not so much like at home (picture from last year).



I think we need a bottle of whiskey.

Plane delayed leaving for Cancun

Plane delayed leaving for Cancun by 1/2 hour

Scuulpture in Dallas airport near gate D29

Also ordered tix to see

Also ordered tix to see the Band of Heathens at the Ark in March from here at the airport. I feel so modern!

At DFW and guy calls

At DFW and guy calls from Joseph beverage In Toledo and saYs he can get me a case of that Milton Park shiraz, so I order up!

Leaving detroit almost on time

Leaving detroit almost on time but theres a two hour layover in dallas so no worries.

Random Texas pictures

Tom and Jessica at the bed and breakfast.


Sign at the Broken Spoke


Inside the Broken Spoke. Note ceiling tiles.


Jessica's mom Robin.


The silk sleep shirt I got from Robin.


Sign.


Room at the Austin Motel.


Lobby at the Austin Motel.

Dale Watson at the Broken Spoke.


Cutie Pies wagon on S. Congress.

Avocado margarita and ceviche at Curra's in Austin. Christmas Eve breakfast with the kids.

The cupcake wagon on S. Congress.

Great Room at Robin's Nest.

Bat statue in downtown Austin.

Baby posing as Christmas goose.


Anne receiving a bag gift.

Max and Jan

Poker. Follow the queen

1:40 Dancing